Disposable protective footwear accessories



Aug. 21, 1956 R. M. GODDARD 2,759,275

DISFOSABLE PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR ACCESSORIES Filed May 2, 1955 Ruth M Goddard INVENTOR.

United States DISPOSABLE PROTECTIVE FGGTWEAR A CCESSQRlIES Ruth M. Goddard, New York, N. Y.

Application May 2, 19%, Serial No. 505,396

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-12) This invention relates, generally, to improved protective footwear accessories and, more particularly, it is con cerned with certain novel, disposable articles of accessory apparel, adapted to being worn in conjunction with and overlying ordinary footwear, whereby the footwear is protected against adverse weather and other conditions, especially dirt and dampness, rain, snow and the like.

It is known to protect articles of footwear, while in use, by the wearing therewith of overshoes, formed of rubber, plastic, or the like, whereby a water-impervious physical barrier is interposed between the footwear to be protected and the adverse weather conditions against which protection is sought. From the standpoint of the user, protection of footwear in this manner has many disadvantages: For instance, such overshoes, whether made of rubber or of plastic materials, are costly; they are easily torn or pierced by sharp objects during use, requiring requent replacement as a result of such damage, if not as a result of accidental loss; they are unsightly, even when new, and, as a result of use, they quickly become more so; they are troublesome to put on and to remove; they tend to damage the appearance, at least, of some of the materials commonly used on the exterior portions of womens footwear, suede, for example, causing the mat surface to be destroyed; and they are bulky and heavy, thus making it inconvenient for the users to carry them about when they are not actually being worn but when the need for them is anticipated, in view of threatening weather, or when the need has been served, as during clear weather following a storm.

Furthermore, protective overshoes and the like of the types heretofore known have left much to be desired, as regards the snugness of fitting, especially those types intended to be worn by women with different styles and kinds of footwear. This lack of snugness of fit can be of considerable importance, as a practical matter, in protection of expensive footwear and the problem of pro-- viding close-fitting overshoes for this purpose is considerably complicated by the wide varieties of types and styles of footwear with which an average woman might wish to use, interchangeably at choice, a minimum number of pairs of overshoes. While, obviously, it would be desirable to use a single type of overshoes with all of the various styles of footwear, it will be evident that shoes bearing an ornamentation upstanding from the vamp or cap portions would require overshoes adapted to accommodate that ornamentation without crushing or damaging it, and such modified overshoes would thus not fit tightly around plan, unernamented footwear.

One of the obiects this invention is to provide a novel type of improved protective footwear accessory that not only fully protects the footwear with which it is used, but, also, is adapted to use with any style of footwear, regardless of ornamentation or its absence, providing a snug fitting in every instance.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved protective footwear accessories of the type mentioned that are simple, compact, light in weight, and easily applied 2,759,275 Patented Aug. 21, 1955 or removed from the footwear with which they are employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel footwear accessories of the type mentioned that may be easily and inexpensively manufactured from commonly available materials and that may be produced at a cost so low that the accessories may be discarded after a single use, if desired.

An object of the invention, too, is to provide footwear accessories that, while fully protecting the footwear with which they may be worn, do not present an unsightly appearance but, instead, may enhance the appearance of the footwear.

A further object of the invention is to provide footwear accessories of the type mentioned that not only provide protection against moisture, such as rain and snow, but, also, provide insulation against cold weather.

An additional and very important object of the invention is to provide proteotive accessories for use with footwear that may be carried about inconspicuously and conveniently in the users pocket or purse and, thus, may be available when needed for use in unforeseen emergencies.

Other objects, advantages and features 'of the novel, improved protective footwear accessories according to the present invention will be apparent hereinafter during the following detailed description.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the novel and improved protective footwear accessory according to this invention, adapted to being worn with and around footwear to protect same from adverse weather and other ambient conditions, comprises an essentially continuous, imperforate, water-impervious, flexible sheet of tough, punctureand tear-resistant material, adapted to being easily, manually disposed about the exterior of and at least partially enveloping the footwear to be protected; an essentially fiat, substantially flexible, wear-resistant sole-piece, contoured in rough approximation to the contour of a footwear sole portion, adapted to being placed against that exposed surface of said sheet adjacent the sole portion when said sheet is disposed around the foot wear to be protected; and fastening means comprised of essentially elongate, flexible, ribbon-like elements attached to and engaging with portions of said sole-piece, adapted to hold said sole-piece and associated sheet in position about and at least partially enveloping the footwear to be protected.

The accessory is applied for wearing by placing the footwear to be protected, while on the wearers foot, upon the spread-out sheet, then the marginal portions of the sheet are folded about the footwear to overlie and at least partially envelop the sole, side, vamp and cap por tions of the footwear, after which the accessory solepiece is placed upon that portion of the sheet over-lying the sole portion of the footwear, and the fastening means is secured to hold the sheet and sole-piece securely in the relative positions mentioned.

The sheet elements of the protective footwear accessories according to this invention may be formed of any substance, natural or synthetic, unitary or composite, homogeneous or heterogeneous, provided merely that it is possessed of the properties above set forth and that it is adapted to being disposed about an article of footwear, while in use, in the manner described. Suitable materials that may be utilized include sheeted natural or synthetic polymers, the latter being especially preferred, particularly sheets and films of vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate or other polyvinyl esters; sheets or films of polyethylene or polymers of other organic chemical compounds closely related to ethylene; copolymers of vinyl halides and acrylonitrile, such as the sarans; and the like. If desired, the sheet element may be treated with a hydrophobic agent,

such as a silicone or the like, to modify or increase its water-repellancy and/ or its water-imperviousness. If desired, the sheet elements may be metallic, for example, thin sheet or foil aluminum or a similar common, soft and flexible metal may be used. Also, if desired, the sheet element may be a composite structure, formed by uniting or consolidating superposed sheets or films of any of the types aforesaid, for instance, plastic sheets or films may be united with metallic foils, or sheets of fibrous material, such as paper or fabric, may be united with plastic sheets or films, or with metallic foils, to yield sheet materials suitable for use in the products according to this invention. Suitable decoration or ornamentation may be applied, if desired, to the sheet material to enhance the appearance of the accessory or facilitate concealment of the footwear with which it may be worn.

The sole-piece element of the protective footwear accessories in accordance with this invention, likewise, may be made of any of a wide variety of suitable materials provided merely that the selected material in the form required is possessed of the requisite strength, flexibility and resistance to wear as mentioned above. Paper, cardboard, or similar matted or Woven fibrous material, fiber-glass or the like, preferably but not necessarily treated to increase its resistance to abrasive wear and its strength, especially its wet strength, may be used satisfactorily. If desired, sheets of plastic composition, preferably with a sheeted fibrous filler, may be employed, for instance, cardboard impregnated with a hydrophobic resinous polymer is particularly satisfactory and to be preferred. Composite sheet products, also, may be used, if desired. Although not essential to the embodiment of this invention, it is desirable that at least the surface of the sole-piece outermost when in use be provided with a friction-increasing coating, whereby proper traction may be provided the wearer when on a slippery surface-on ice, for instance.

The fastening means whereby the sheet, folded around the footwear to be protected and the wearers foot, and the sole-piece are maintained in the desired positions and relationships may take any of several concrete embodiments, at choice. For instance, relatively inextensible fibrous cords or ribbons, or elastic cords or ribbons, may be used, mounted or attached to the sole-piece, preferably near the front or toe-portion thereof, and adapted to being passed over and gripping the cap and/or vamp portions of the footwear with which the accessory is used, and further adapted to being engaged with rear portions of the sole-piece and the footwear or the wearers foot, whereby secure fastening of the various elements in the desired relationship is assured. Woven fibrous ribbons, because of their strength, ready availability and decorative qualities, are particularly preferred for accessories intended for womens use.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of the present invention, a specific embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustrated embodiment is provided solely by way of example and is non-limitative upon the scope of the present invention, except as expressed in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawings:

Figure 1 is essentially a perspective view, showing one of a pair of accessories according to this invention as in use about footwear to be protected on a wearers foot;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the subject of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the sole-piece element of the device illustrated in the foregoing figures, the fastening means being shown in partially disengaged position; and

Figure 4 is substantially a sectional view of the subject of Figure 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noticed that the novel footwear accessory according to this invention, indicated generally by the reference character 10, comprises three functionally and structurally integrated and coacting elements; a water-impervious sheet element, generally indicated at 11; a sole-piece, generally indicated at 12; and fastening means, generally indicated at 13, adapted to hold the accessory about footwear while in use, substantially as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The sheet element 11 is an essentially continuous, imperforate, water-impervious, flexible sheet of tough, punctureand tear-resistant, synthetic plastic material, produced by sheeting a suitably plasticized vinyl chlorideacrylonitrile copolymer. As will be seen from the drawing, the sheet element is so disposed, relative to the footwear with which it is used, that its central portion is adjacent and overlies the sole of the footwear, and its marginal portions are folded up, over, and around the sides, cap and vamp portions of the footwear, essentially as is represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will be understood that when the sheet element is thus disposed, it provides a substantially water-impervious or, at least, essentially water-impermeable barrier about the sole, sides and parts of the top portion of the footwear, thereby protecting the same and the wearers foot from ambient cold and moisture.

The sole-piece 12 is a substantially flat, wear-resistant shape of high wet-strength cardboard, contoured in rough approximation to the ordinary contour of an average footwear sole portion, having a front or toe-portion 14 and a rear tab portion 15, essentially as shown in Figure 3. The front portion 14 is provided, at opposite side portions thereof, with outwardly extending lugs 0r ears 16, which may be integrally formed with or rigidly attached to the sole-piece, and which are provided with openings 16a therein for purposes later to be described. The rear portion 15 of the sole-piece 12 is provided with a centrally located, struck-out integral loop 17, adapted to receive and engage with portions of the fastening means as will be hereinafter described.

The fastening means 13, in this particular embodiment of the invention, is comprised of a relatively inextensiblc ribbon of woven fibrous material 18, attached to the lugs 16a and extending upward therefrom to cross over the cap portion of the footwear at 19, substantially as shown in Figures 1, 2, and, in phantom, in Figure 3, then extending backward and downward to cross again in the loop 17 of the sole-piece 12, and with the ends than extending upward for tieing about the Wearers ankle, thereby securing the sheet element 11 and the sole-piece 12 in the relative positions above described and assuring protection of the footwear in the manner intended.

It is to be understood that this improved protective footwear accessory is susceptible to modifications in details of structure and function within the scope of and without departure from the principles of this invention as defined in the subjoined claim.

Having thus described the subject matter of this invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An improved heelless disposable sandal overshoe, adapted to being worn with ladies footwear to protect the same and the wearers feet from inclement weather conditions, that comprises: a replaceable, essentially flat, imperforate, water impervious, flexible sheet of material adapted to cover the foresole of the footwear to be protected and being of width sufficient that marginal portions extending beyond the foresole on each side thereof may be manually wrapped into overlying relationship about the sides, vamp and toe cap portions of the footwear, thereby enveloping the same and also exposed portions of a wearers foot contained therein; a separate, essentially flat, substantially flexible, relatively wearresistant sole-piece, shaped in rough approximation to the shape of the foresole portion of the footwear with which it is to be used, adapted to being placed in overlying relationship against the exposed surface of said flexible sheet adjacent the foresole portion of the footwear when said sheet is wrapped therearound; and fastening means comprising two essentially elongate, flexible, ribbon-like elements, attached to and engaging with portions of said sole-piece on each side thereof and adapted to be wrapped around said footwear and the flexible sheet enveloping the same in criss-crossed relationship to each other, passed under the shank portion of the footwear, and fastened across the instep of the wearer's foot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ihnen June 18, Ellsworth Oct. 1, Thompson Dec. 16, Sidnam Aug. 17, Glasgow Sept. 21, Brown Dec. 3,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 16, 

